McLean played a career-high 15 games in 2016, and was a part of the Club's AFL Premiership win in just his second season of senior football.

Season

Season in short

Toby McLean played 19 games in 2017.

In a terrific third season for the midfielder, McLean’s best game came in Round 16 against Adelaide. McLean was the Bulldogs’ best player on the night with eight clearances, three inside-50’s, eight tackles and a career-high 32 possessions.

In Round 14, in the Bulldogs’ one-point victory over North Melbourne, McLean was among the best with six clearances, three inside-50s and 13 score involvements.

Stat that mattered:

Spending more time in the midfield in 2017, McLean averaged 22.4 disposals, significantly up on his 2016 season (17.3).

What they said.

“I thought I had a big improvement personally this year.

“Moving into the midfield and getting more involved around the ball, it’s probably become my number one role this year, coming second to being a forward. I’ve really enjoyed it.

“I worked on my fitness in pre-season so I could run out games to the last quarter and also on my strength, hitting the gym quite hard and trying to get bigger and stronger.”

Season in short

Dangerous and creative around goal, by the end of 2016 Toby McLean had added eleven more games to his career tally and a premiership medal.

Was a regular fixture in the Dogs' line-up in the first 11 weeks of the season before a foot injury sidelined the 20-year-old for the next two months. Returned via the VFL and showed glimpses and eventually landed back in the team for the semi-final against the Hawks.

he averaged 20 disposals (nine contested), five tackles and almost a goal a game for the remainder of the season.

Strong overhead for his size and will only get stronger with another pre-season in the gym, while his snap off a step is lethal.

The stat that mattered

Kicked a goal in 11 of 15 games played this season.

What they said

“I had a good start playing every game until round 11 and then obviously had that foot injury which didn’t help and I was out for six to eight weeks. Was good finishing off in the team.

“You set yourself a few goals during the season - my fitness was a big one, especially knowing when to push the body that little bit more.

“I think my kicking this year has improved a lot as well, my set shots, I sort of made the most of my opportunities.

“The main aim is to get bigger and stronger in the gym which I think will help me on the field.”

Season in short:

The Dogs top pick in the 2014 draft, Toby McLean impressed in his debut season.

His high-flying marks and craft goals feature heavily in his game, as he began the season in the VFL.

McLean made his AFL debut in round 10, starting as the substitute against Port Adelaide.

His subsequent three games, where he played the full match in each, McLean averaged 19 disposals.

McLean unfortunately succumbed to a shoulder injury following the round 14 clash with Carlton, requiring surgery that kept him out of the game until Footscray’s finals series.

Despite only a short time in the AFL side, McLean showed enough promise to convince he has an exciting future ahead.

Stat that mattered:

McLean collected 21 disposals in round 14 against Carlton, as well as six marks and three tackles.

What they said:

“It’s been a good year, I’m pretty satisfied with how I went… I had different roles through the wing and forward, I haven’t really played much wing so it was good to get a run through there. It was disappointing to get injured but I felt I was playing some pretty good footy beforehand.” – Toby McLean, September 2015

“It was a real shame he hurt his shoulder, that game where he got injured, he was one of our best two or three players on the night. He can play, he’s got great talent, he can take a great mark, but he’s also just got great footy nous.

“He’s brave for someone so slight at the moment, he doesn’t shy away from the contest. I think he’s got great forward craft and he’s going to develop into someone that can play midfield or forward, he’s going to be a really hard matchup with his overhead marking ability as well.” – Steven King (Western Bulldogs Assistant Coach), September 2015